FIASKO

Sometimes Funky-Cool, Sometimes Not

It's a Mixed Bag

I can get excited about some of this debut release from Polish guitarist ROMAN ODOJ- he's got a supple hand, uses a variety of effects and sounds, plays clean and distorted licks and lines, very tasteful.

There's a nice variety within and among the nine tracks, ranging from progressive-pop- for instance on the opening track, "Titan", to electronica-flavored music/psychedelia- like "Deux" and "Eurydice", to jazz inflected funkiness using sax and violins and electric piano- "One of You", "Human Cartoon"...

Yet It Loses Momentum

For me, the opening tracks are strongest. "Titan" opens with eerie keyboards, then breaks into a vibrant, catchy, rocking vibe. The instrumental breakdown with active bass line, crisp percussion (a highlight throughout the album), and slinky guitar lines, really cooks.

"One of You" starts brightly, nice use of vocals and harmonies, great production (also throughout this album), and cool guitar lines that are first reflective, then more vibrant. Sax and violin are standouts.

Then Vocalist Changes

The resonant baritone voice didn't strike me. That same vocalist (not sure who it is) is featured on several tracks - "Castaway", "Deux", and the title track- and I just don't care for it. The tracks also show less of the shimmer, energy, and jazzy joy with which the album began.

Three Instrumental Tracks

"Eurydice" is just ok. It leans into post-rock somewhat, has more electronica, and didn't do much for me. "Annunciation" opens with clean picked guitar, then that edgy, funky bass guitar ushers in a more rocking feel, and those unison guitar/bass lines really cook. There are alternating passages of that rocking feel, then a spacier vibe. "Qintam" was shaping up to be my favorite track with some cool funky bass lines over reflective held string sounds and atmospheric guitar lines. It builds into a nice heavy feel and a great synth lead break over that funky bass...but goes into an extended static/synth/space noise passage...and ends.

So, Some Pros and Some Cons

For my taste, I'd like to hear more of the funky, jazzy, rocking side of Roman and his co-conspirators. They can really smoke and it's a lot of fun.

I really didn't care for those baritone vocals, and the spacey, electronica stuff didn't move me much either.

In Conclusion

There are enough strong points to earn this one 3 stars. A promising debut.

Although guitarist Roman Odoj has been active in different bands in his local scene for some years, this is his debut solo album. Here he has been joined by multiple musicians, which includes three different keyboard players, a couple of different singers, plus we also get a violin, a cellist, some saxophone players yet instead of it adding to the overall music it somehow detracts. While this is indicated by ProgArchives as a crossover progressive album, others may just call this alternative rock with little overtly progressive elements within it. For me this is a very uneven release, with neither singer really doing themselves or the music justice, and songs like "Castaway", which turns into electronic reggae at one point, should have been left in the studio and never been put on the album.

This is a shame, as Roman has a fluid touch, and when he allows himself to take centre stage it is far more interesting than when he is in the background, and it is his solos which bring the music to life. To my mind it would be better in future for him to work in an instrumental band environment where he is the leader, and for the group to work together with his guitar as the melodic focal point. There are too many times when this feels like an independent project, almost a demo, with too much in the way of electronics and programming. But when he allows himself to come forward such as on "Eurydice" then it is transformed, even though on that particular song I would have preferred a totally different structure behind it. A work in progress, it will be interesting to hear what the next release is like.